No one said anything about ‘envy’. That’s your straw-man talking-point. In any case, comparing him with Kerry and his windsurfing is entirely too apt, if Mitt can’t manage to grow some stubble and swing an axe. On the other hand…$5.00-a-gallon gas. Obama can be an out-of-touch ‘regular guy’ all day long with that. Better hope Gingrich does or doesn’t get nominated.

I do not think Romney committed tax fraud, I think he supports tax policies that mean he pays a lower percentage of income taxes than most middle-class (note, I am not saying poor since they pay no income taxes) people. Sooner or later, the payroll taxes are going to come up and that’s going to make Romney and his ilk look worse.

“It isn’t his money. “Envy of the rich” is a rightwing talking point. It’s his ability to skip out on taxes, then act all weird about it.”

Kind of like how Obama skipped out on paying taxes? Well, I don’t actually know if he did but I know Romney didn’t, so I thought I’d just say something ridiculous like you did.

And, laura linked to a story showing the Romneys paid a higher percentage in taxes than the Heinz’s, err, Kerry’s. But, Kerry made his money the old fashioned way, as a gold digger, so he’s much more honorable.

Fortunately, Romney didn’t actually skip out on giving money to charity like Obama & Biden. Really, who in this country is as selfish as those two?

Speaking of Biden & charity, he’s a member of the 1%. In that, his average charitable givings were 1%. Atta way to share the wealth with the fairness and the poor people and the rich people and 1% and fairness and fairness and stuff.

The thing about Romney’s taxes is not that he did anything illegal or even unethical by paying a 15% CGT.He didn’t.

It’s just that he justifies people paying that 15% capital gains tax by saying they need that low rate because they are the ones creating jobs. It’s only a matter of time before someone asks him how many jobs he created with his $25,000,000.00 income last year taxed at 15%.

It’s crap. Multi-millionaires don’t create more jobs with their silly capital gains tax break. They don’t spend it, either. It goes on the pile while they b!tch about the deficit and call for cuts in social programs. Screw the greedy bastards.

The Obama’s have increased their charitable giving since the spotlight has been on them. In 2000, they gave a whopping 1%.http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-09-12-biden-financial_N.htm
In 07, the Biden’s gave 0.3% to charity. I guess they consider that their fair share. Funny how liberals always want to raise taxes but never want to give any of their own money when not forced. Every study I’ve seen shows that conservatives of all income levels give more to charity than liberals.

When I said Biden was in the 1% it was meant to reflect the fact that he’s in the 1% to charity bracket. What a selfish !#$#.

Josh, I saw it on Twitter as a link to New York papers. There’s nothing “national” about this story, and no reason for cable to carry it. Any cursory reading of the case shows it’s very much a he said/she said situation. “I told my boyfriend after I had drinks with a local celebrity and took him to my office, then reported it to the police three months later” is not “attacked in an alley and reported immediately”.

Is that a pile under their mattress? No, it’s a pile of money in investments. If they hoard their money and don’t invest it then there’s no tax collected on it at all. Whatever amount from their income that’s taken by the government will not be available to go into further investments. Pretty simple, eh?

Also, capital gains are taxed at a lower rate because most are paid out from money ALREADY TAXED at 35%. Returns from municipal bonds, treasury notes, etc., obviously aren’t already taxed. That “loophole” is provided to encourage government funding.

They already pay 70% of the nation’s taxes. You may feel better taking more from them but you’re screwing yourself.

If you work for one of Romney’s companies, that company does not pay income tax on the amount that’s in your paycheck. The company does pay income tax (about 35%) on the profits it pays to Romney. Romney then pays an additional cap gains tax (about 15%).

Income is income. He pays more than you both in actual amount and percentage.

If you receive MORE money to stuff in your pocket, or invest whatever way you want, it’s NEW income. Period. Your obfuscating number-juggling is cover for “I don’t trust the government, and don’t want to give them anymore money”. I disagree with that world view.

OK, we’ll try that. Someone who shows up to work every day, earns an annual paycheck of $170K per year, is married with one child, and has average deductions will pay 12-14%. If that same person earned $50K the percentage would be much less. So even using your world view Romney pays the same or more.

If 170K gets you Romney’s rate with deductions, they both need to lose those deductions. The progressive taxation system was not intended to provide a flat tax of 15%. You can’t fight wars and build infrastructure and support social programs with that funding base. It’s a ‘starve the beast’ shutdown of government which I don’t believe in.

“When I said Biden was in the 1% it was meant to reflect the fact that he’s in the 1% to charity bracket. What a selfish !#$#.”

C’mon now lonestar, don’t be envious of Biden’s success, He earned that money and he should admired and adored for it. Why should he give it to someone who never worked as hard or is as smart as he is? 😉

I kid because I love🙂

This is a fundamental difference of values and world view. This is why we have elections.

If you go to work every day, your annual pay check is $50,000, your wife doesn’t work, you have no children, no house, no charitable contributions, etc., you will pay an income tax of $5,576, or 13%. Again, using your logic, Romney still pays more.

Here’s where your argument fails:

Profits have to be taken out as capital gains in order for there to be monies for new investments. No new investments then no new profits and no new jobs. Those “new profits” are a larger pie taxed at 35%. Whatever extra capital gains are taken in tax the less available for new investment and less available to eventually be taxed at 35%.

A few decades ago when most foreign markets were still recovering from WW2 and the Cold War was in full steam it really didn’t matter all that much if the rates were higher because where else would the money go? It’s a world market now.

^ Not true. We absolutely can and should have strong unions. The minimum wage hurts people, though, and unfairly across economic ranges – My kids still get jobs easily but not so easy for the lower economic neighbourhoods.